When you’re managing an online store, visuals are everything. A well-organized, polished look for your product images can make shopping easier and more enjoyable for your customers. If you’re an author selling books on Shopify, it’s crucial to maintain consistency and professionalism in your product images. In this guide, we’ll cover how to create square, 1080 x 1080 images using Book Brush, ensuring your Shopify store looks clean and professional.
Want to follow along visually? Here’s the video tutorial:
Why Square Images Matter
Ever visited a website where product images looked mismatched or off-center? That inconsistency can make your store appear unprofessional. Using 1080 x 1080 square images ensures your pages look well-aligned and tidy. These dimensions work beautifully across Shopify’s product pages and even help products stand out when shared on social platforms or included in ads.
Plus, square images are easy to view regardless of device, whether your audience is browsing on mobile or desktop. It’s a simple step that makes all the difference.
Setting Up Your Images in Book Brush
Step 1: Use the Right Dimensions
The key to creating great product images is consistency. Stick to 1080 x 1080 pixels for everything—this size works perfectly on Shopify and most other platforms like WooCommerce or Bonanza. If you’re not familiar with Book Brush, don’t worry—it’s user-friendly and doesn’t require advanced design skills. You’ll need to create an account before you begin, but Book Brush doesn’t require any affiliate codes or special links.
Step 2: Getting Started
- Begin by creating a new project in Book Brush.
- Select the “Custom Creator” tool from the main dashboard.
- Choose the Facebook Square setting, as it’s already set to 1080 x 1080. No need to scroll for extra options—this preset saves time.
Once you’ve confirmed the size, you’ll see a white square workspace. This will act as the blank canvas for your product images.
Choosing Templates for Book Covers
Book Brush offers several templates designed specifically for books. Whether you’re promoting an ebook, audiobook, paperback, or a bundle, you can find a design that fits your needs.
Examples of Product Layouts
- Ebooks: You can choose a template showing an ebook angled slightly to the side for a clean, professional look.
- Audiobooks: Use sleek designs with audio icons or headphones in the mix.
- Paperback & Hardcovers: Showcase bold, front-facing images resembling a physical book.
- Bundles: Combine book formats in one image, like an audiobook, ebook, and paperback set.
Pick templates that resonate with your brand or book genres. For example, black-themed designs might suit thriller novels, while lighter colors are great for sweet romances.
Pro Tips for Image Resizing and Proportions
When resizing book covers, hold down the Shift key. This trick locks the proportions, so your image doesn’t stretch or distort. If you don’t use Shift, things can quickly look out of place—like a stretched-out book cover. Nobody wants that!
Drag the corner while holding Shift until your image is the perfect size, then place it within the square white background. Once it looks good, save your changes.
Creating one template for each product type (ebooks, paperbacks, etc.) is a great way to save time in the long run. You can reuse the same layout for different covers while maintaining a consistent look across your store.
Exporting Your Images
Consistency doesn’t end at creating the design—it extends to how you save and upload your final files. For each book or product, save two file types:
- PNG: This file type has a transparent background and is useful for layering images or creating graphics for other uses.
- JPEG: A smaller file size option that’s ideal for faster loading times on your Shopify store.
If you want to make your store even faster, consider converting your JPEGs to the WebP format. WebP files are smaller and help improve your site’s loading speeds, which is helpful for both SEO and customer experience. Tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh can assist with the conversion process.
Managing Bulk Product Images
If you have multiple books and designs, tackle them all at once. Organize your files and batch create images to save time. For example, if you have 100+ books, plan to spend a few hours repeating the PNG and JPEG exporting process. You’ll thank yourself later when all your product pages are consistent and well-arranged.
And don’t forget to include all necessary formats per book: ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. Bundling these formats visually might also enhance your product offers, giving your customers more options in a single glance.
Staying Consistent Across Pen Names or Genres
If you write under multiple pen names or across different genres, don’t be afraid to use slight variations in your image design. A thriller author might stick to darker themes, while a romance writer could favor pastel tones. Even with these variations, the overall image structure should remain consistent to maintain a polished look.
Final Thoughts
Your Shopify store is often the first impression customers have of you as an author and seller. Don’t let mismatched or uneven product images hold you back. By using square 1080 x 1080 images created in Book Brush, you can elevate your store’s appearance and give your audience a seamless browsing experience.
Have fun designing, and remember: consistency is one of the simplest ways to make your store look professional and inviting. If you have questions or need more tips, check out the video tutorial or reach out for guidance. Happy selling!